• Grant Rawson
  • Grant Rawson

c2c... and some

A 36-day adventure by Grant Read more
  • Day 6 - to Kirkby Stephen

    July 2, 2017 in England ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Day 6... After taping up ankles & knees, covering blisters... left the Kings Arm Hotel and walked 34 km.
    Past a 6000 year old stone circle, Robin Hood's grave (apparently), through the pretty township of Orton, through farms, following the never ending stone walls, along streams, over bridges & under bridges.

    We arrived at Kirkby Stephen later than planned, to find all the pubs had finished cooking for the night. We saw plenty of road kill, but fortunately we also found a Chinese restaurant that served hot chips.

    Due to a pressure issue in his heel, Ethan did the whole day in his explorer socks only... Champ

    Zac seems to be coping better than everyone else... Champ

    48,596 steps
    236 floors
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  • Nine Standards Rigg

    July 3, 2017 in England ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Up to this point, all rivers have been running west to the Irish Sea - so we've been walking up stream.

    From this point, all rivers will run east to the North Sea - so we'll be walking downstream from now on.

    All downhill from here...

    sort of.
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  • En route to Swalede (Keld)

    July 3, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    After successfully sorting out Ethan's heel & boot issue, we climbed out of Kirkby Stephen (about 500m ascent in short time), only to find the remaining downhill part of the day to be tougher, due to having to find our way through occasionally knee deep creeks & bogs.

    Met more walkers from Canada - who we were to cross paths with often for the next 5 or 6 days. The company was always great, and the legend of the boys was spreading across the length of the walk with everyone we met.

    Devonshire tea was on offer in the afternoon at a local farmhouse by a creek with a stone bridge. Just ring the bell at the backdoor, and one of the farmers 9 children would take our order.
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  • Day 7 - we stayed in a YURT!

    July 3, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    The shorter walk (only 20 km) was welcome today, particularly due to the fact that we had AWESOME accommodation in some Yurts by a waterfall... with fantastic hosts Ian & Michelle... and great food... and Black Sheep Ale.

    31,137 steps
    208 floors
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  • Day 8 - made it to Reeth

    July 4, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Woke to rain on the Yurt... sounded awesome.
    Just wanted to stay in bed... because it was cosy, and the rain sounded awesome.
    But we had to go,

    so we left... in the rain

    Walked all day... in the rain

    & arrived at Reeth... in the rain.

    Boys wanted ice-cream!

    It was still a pretty cool walk, though - following the River Swale, through farms and quaint little towns.

    Stopped for a bite at Gunnerside where a discussion about boundaries, (and what was and was not permissible) ensued with the barman. After a brief chat, it became clear that there was, in fact, a white line which marked the boundary, so I was able to eat my lunch, and drink the Pub's coffee... in the rain.

    Stayed at Dales Bike Centre & had dinner at the Bridge Inn.

    34,669 steps
    89 floors
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  • Day 9 - arrived at Richmond.

    July 5, 2017 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    The cross England pub crawl continues...
    After walking 124 miles (200 km) in 9 days, we've made it to Richmond where a rest day awaits.

    Top little town, this.

    Had to have a Black Sheep tonight, but curiosity got the better of me, so tried that brew too. Another good (short) walk today. Had scones with jam & cream in a church dating back to about 1200. Walked through a paddock with some menacing looking bulls (with help from the local farmer). Found more mud, and met more people on the walk.
    Very impressed with the boys... taking it all all in their stride, so to speak, no complaints.

    27,412 steps
    136 floors
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  • Day 11 - ingleby arncliffe

    July 7, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Only 38 km today.

    Left Richmond, followed the River Swale, picked our way through farms, passed Catterick Race Course, more farms, popped in to the 800 year old church at Bolton-on-Swale for tea and bikkies (where Henry Jenkins was buried after living to 169), more farms, stopped at the White Swan at Danby Wiske for ale, cider, wine, panadol and nurofen, then through more farms after pushing through a hedge (like entering an otherworld)... through White House farm, Moor House Farm, Northfield Farm, Wray House Farm, Harlsey Grove Farm, Breckenridge Hill Farm, Longlands Farm (some of which had left out drinks and an honesty box)... somehow crossed a super busy dual carriageway...

    ...took a breath...

    ...then ran into Ingleby Arncliffe.

    Stayed at Ingleby House Farm with Malcolm & Jane (great hosts). Malcolm drove us to the Blue Bell Inn for dinner...

    We slept well.

    53,289 steps
    73 floors
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  • Day 12 - Great Broughton

    July 8, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Great Walk today! Super scenic.
    Views out to sea across patchwork fields.

    We stayed @ Dromonby Bridge B&B with Dave, who is a cross between Neil Young and Neil from the 'Young Ones'... with a little bit of Ozzy Osbourne thrown. Turns out he's a big Neil Young fan.
    Single all his life (60+ years), he's not really sure what he's doing - doesn't play by the B&B textbook rules, because he doesn't know what they are...

    When we asked him why he started the B&B, he said... "I don't know, really. I just kept seeing all these people I didn't know walking past, and wondered where they all stayed."

    "I don't know, really..." was his most common phrase when answering a question, before finally answering with his version of what he did know... or do.

    He's my favourite.

    Dinner @ the Black Swan where I had Chilli King Prawns... apparently.

    30,855 steps
    275 floors
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  • Day 13 - to Glaisdale via Lion Inn

    July 9, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Walked along Blakey Ridge (watching an aerobatics display along the way) to get to the Lion Inn - 4th highest pub in England, dating back nearly 500 years. You wouldn't get that from the outside, but inside was a different story - great place. The Canadian crew we had been bumping into for the last 4 days were stopping here.

    Continued on through Glaisdale Moor to Glaisdale, where we found our accomodation (Greenhowe B&B) and collapsed on their plush front lawn. Ruth bought drinks out to us.

    Yet another great walk followed by a great meal in a local pub (the Arncliffe Arms), and another great place to stay.
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  • Day 14 - Robin Hood's Bay via Littlebeck

    July 10, 2017 in England ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Wetter than we wanted for the last day.

    We set off past Begger's Bridge, and Egton Manor, then through Grosmont. On to Littlebeck, where we ate lunch... in the rain... and then through Littlebeck Wood past the Hemitage and Falling Foss waterfall... then coffee at Falling Foss Tea Garden.

    We continued out of Littlebeck Wood (but not before a huge tree fell just as we were walking past). Cool, but kind of freaky.
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  • The Hermitage

    July 10, 2017 in England ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    This cave has been hewn out of a single rock around 1790 (inscribed above the doorway)
    reputedly by a George Chubb whose initials are also carved above the door.